Published: Thursday, January 3, 2013 at 1:59 p.m.

Last Modified: Thursday, January 3, 2013 at 1:59 p.m.

State Sen. Thom Goolsby said Thursday he might have made a critical error in his first term by not reaching out to local leaders early on.

Facts

Wilmington's 2013 state legislative agenda

- Obtain alternative local revenue source(s) as part of tax reform - Offset the burden on public services provided by and supported by city taxpayers- Encourage cities to be regional leaders in job creation- Assist local governments with needed infrastructure improvements for streets and transportation projects; protect the environment and improve our infrastructure- Fund the transportation infrastructure- Support the growth of jobs in the local community- Extend film tax credit - Expand the economic impact of the port - Protect and grow local revenue capacity- Oppose changes to the current room occupancy tax formula- Increase the municipal share of local sales taxes- Give the DMV the authority to block license renewals due to unpaid parking tickets - New revenue stream for beach and waterway projects

New Hanover County's state legislative agenda

Intergovernmental Relations- Explore and authorize use of alternate, sustainable revenue options and funding sources for beach, inlet and waterway maintenance- Consider and provide guidance on the filing of false claims in the North Carolina County Registrar of Deeds offices- Monitor vegetation removal along state highways to ensure visibility of posted signs

Health and Human Services- Ensure adequate mental health funding- Authorize local Departments of Social Services to have more enforcement authority over adult care homes in times of observed and immediate crisis or as a follow-up to crisis situations

Environment- Support future research into sea-level rise and sea-level rise legislation

Tax and Finance- Explore amending or repealing the state law that prohibits the use of contingency agents for collecting revenue.

* This agenda was approved in September 2012 by the previous Board of Commissioners. The agenda will be brought before the new commissioners this month and is subject to change, according to Carey Disney Ricks, the county's legislative and public affairs manager.

And he doesn't want to do it again.

Goolsby, a Republican preparing to start his second term, and Democratic Rep. Susi Hamilton organized a local officials caucus held Thursday morning at the Wilmington City Hall. Its purpose was to unite legislators and local officials across party lines.

Goolsby said he wants to communicate more with the school board, the city council, the county commissioners and leaders from the beach towns.

"Folks, y'all are the ones on the front lines, and we need to hear from you," Goolsby said.

Hamilton, who is also preparing to start her second term, said she will work with local officials. "We're going to listen to one another," she said.

The event, which also featured Reps.-elect Rick Catlin and Ted Davis Jr., both Republicans, was largely devoid of political disagreements, though political differences surfaced.

After Catlin and Davis rattled off their tentative committee assignments, Hamilton said it was enlightening because the House Democrats had not yet received word of their assignments.

"Perhaps you can tell me what committees I'm on," she said. Catlin replied, "I think it's because we're in the majority that we know what our assignments are...."

Several local officials said the meeting was overdue, though no one from the city council brought up their past frustrations with the delegation.

At the start of the 2011 legislative session, the Republican-dominated local delegation, which included Goolsby, dismissed the Wilmington City Council's requests, which frustrated city officials. Around that time, council members expressed frustration with the delegation. Mayor Bill Saffo and others said the legislators cared more about New Hanover County's priorities and did not recognize the city's needs.

After the meeting, Saffo said the caucus was good first step forward. But he added that he is sure the delegation won't move forward on some issues in the city's wish list.

"Obviously, the proof is always in the pudding" he said.

When it was time for local officials to ask questions Thursday, they focused more on the future.

Kure Beach Mayor Dean Lambeth asked that the legislators shield Fort Fisher State Historic Site and the N.C. Aquarium at Fort Fisher from further cuts. Clerk of Court Jan Kennedy lamented that her staff of 62 has not had a raise in four years and said she just lost a good employee who got a better-paying job with the state.

The legislators also alluded to the upcoming tax reform effort. Catlin, speaking of a recent meeting on the matter, said, "There were a lot of questions that didn't have answers."

"The scariest thing about making changes like that are unintended consequences," he said, adding that he wants to get feedback about how those changes could affect New Hanover County-area governments and businesses.

Goolsby also said he wants the county, the city and the beach towns to send the delegation their legislative agendas by the end of January.

<p>State Sen. Thom Goolsby said Thursday he might have made a critical error in his first term by not reaching out to local leaders early on.</p><p>And he doesn't want to do it again.</p><p>Goolsby, a Republican preparing to start his second term, and Democratic Rep. Susi Hamilton organized a local officials caucus held Thursday morning at the Wilmington City Hall. Its purpose was to unite legislators and local officials across party lines. </p><p>Goolsby said he wants to communicate more with the school board, the city council, the county commissioners and leaders from the beach towns. </p><p>"Folks, y'all are the ones on the front lines, and we need to hear from you," Goolsby said. </p><p>Hamilton, who is also preparing to start her second term, said she will work with local officials. "We're going to listen to one another," she said. </p><p>The event, which also featured Reps.-elect Rick Catlin and Ted Davis Jr., both Republicans, was largely devoid of political disagreements, though political differences surfaced.</p><p>After Catlin and Davis rattled off their tentative committee assignments, Hamilton said it was enlightening because the House Democrats had not yet received word of their assignments. </p><p>"Perhaps you can tell me what committees I'm on," she said. Catlin replied, "I think it's because we're in the majority that we know what our assignments are...." </p><p>Several local officials said the meeting was overdue, though no one from the city council brought up their past frustrations with the delegation.</p><p>At the start of the 2011 legislative session, the Republican-dominated local delegation, which included Goolsby, dismissed the Wilmington City Council's requests, which frustrated city officials. Around that time, council members expressed frustration with the delegation. Mayor <a href="http://www.starnewsonline.com/section/topic72"><b>Bill Saffo</b></a> and others said the legislators cared more about New Hanover County's priorities and did not recognize the city's needs.</p><p>After the meeting, Saffo said the caucus was good first step forward. But he added that he is sure the delegation won't move forward on some issues in the city's wish list. </p><p>"Obviously, the proof is always in the pudding" he said. </p><p>When it was time for local officials to ask questions Thursday, they focused more on the future. </p><p>Kure Beach Mayor Dean Lambeth asked that the legislators shield Fort Fisher State Historic Site and the <a href="http://www.starnewsonline.com/section/topic13"><b>N.C. Aquarium at Fort Fisher</b></a> from further cuts. Clerk of Court Jan Kennedy lamented that her staff of 62 has not had a raise in four years and said she just lost a good employee who got a better-paying job with the state.</p><p>The legislators also alluded to the upcoming tax reform effort. Catlin, speaking of a recent meeting on the matter, said, "There were a lot of questions that didn't have answers."</p><p>"The scariest thing about making changes like that are unintended consequences," he said, adding that he wants to get feedback about how those changes could affect New Hanover County-area governments and businesses. </p><p>Goolsby also said he wants the county, the city and the beach towns to send the delegation their legislative agendas by the end of January.</p><p>Julian March: 343-2099</p><p>On <a href="http://www.starnewsonline.com/section/news41"><b>Twitter</b></a>: @julian_march</p>